5. Rapid-Fire First Reaction To Latest College Football Playoff Rankings

West Virginia made a nice move up. The Mountaineers went from 13 up to 9 – and it could be a sneaky-player in this whole thing with – potentially – two games against Oklahoma to go. The two play in the last game of the regular season, and then – probably – in the Big 12 Championship. It’s a problem that WVU can only win 11 games – the NC State game was cancelled by the hurricane – but overall, it’s a good day for the team.

Utah State didn’t get any love. There aren’t any great wins, but Fresno State doesn’t have any, either, and it’s 23rd. Fresno State’s loss? To Minnesota. Utah State’s loss? To Michigan State in the final moments. Did the injury to QB Jordan Love matter? Doubtful. The Aggies just Arne’t getting any respect.

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The Florida win over LSU is a big deal. The Gators didn’t fall all that far despite the blowout loss to Missouri, dropping from 15th to 11th. It keeps hopes alive of getting into a New Year’s Six game.

Syracuse moving up from 19th to 12th will matter for Clemson – sort of. All of a sudden, the win for the Tigers make their resumé even stronger. Now, Clemson can post that it beat the 12th-best team, the 14th-best team (NC State), and gets No. 17 Boston College this week.

The committee didn’t like Michigan State the week before, but it’s the high-riser of the week, going from unranked to 18th. Now it’s time to go big-game hunting. Beat Ohio State, and all of a sudden, the Rose Bowl is a possibility if Michigan gets into the College Football Playoff.